Syracuse, NY – Strong safety Shamarko Thomas is the new “bone” king for the Syracuse University football team.

Thomas said on Tuesday night that he earned his fifth “bone” award of the season from Orange defensive coordinator Scott Shafer after a 14-tackle (10 solo) performance with a forced fumble on Nov. 3 at Cincinnati.

Shafer gives out the award after each game to the hardest hitter on the defense. Thomas had been tied with former SU middle linebacker Derrell Smith, who earned four “bones” in the 2010 season.

Thomas almost earned a sixth “bone” on Saturday in a 45-26 win over Louisville. The native of Virginia Beach, Va., again led the Orange in tackles, with six solo stops, but the honor went to defensive tackle Deon Goggins, who sent a Louisville player’s helmet flying with a jarring hit.

Still, it was a hustle play at the end of the first half by Thomas that exemplified the type of defensive effort that helped win SU the game.

With a third down and 10 yards to go at the SU 28-yard line, Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater scrambled in the pocket to find a receiver, then took off down the left sideline.

Thomas, who was on the opposite hash mark covering a receiver, took off and sprinted to the sideline and sent the Cardinals’ quarterback flying out of bounds, two yards shy of the first down.

The Cardinals kicked a field goal, and instead of cutting a 21-point bulge to 14 Louisville still trailed by 18 points, 31-13.

Thomas heard about the play from Shafer.

“He said he saw my speed come out of me,” Thomas said. “I just came over and tried to make the play, man. That’s my job.”

Thomas leads the Orange defense with 72 tackles (51 solo), three forced fumbles and two interceptions through 10 games.